Sample identification system

Abstract

A system is described for keeping track of the identity of a plurality of individual medical samples when the samples are loaded into multiple holders in which each holder has multiple individual receiving locations. Each sample, holder, and receiving location of each holder has a unique identification number associated therewith. The system includes a recording means for displaying and storing signals. A first reader means is also provided for reading the unique holder identification numbers and generating a signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. A second reader means is also provided for reading the unique sample identification number for generating a second signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. A third reader means is also provided for reading the unique location identification number when the insertion device is introduced into a particular receiving location. The location signal is sent to the recording means for display purposes. A fourth reader means is also provided for reading the unique location identification when a sample is actually deposited in a particular receiving location to generate a signal to be sent to the recording means for storage. In a preferred embodiment, an error prevention means is provided to detect and possibly prevent various types of sample loading errors.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. Apparatus for use with a plurality of individual materials comprising: material-identification means for individually identifying each of said plurality of individual materials;   receiving means for receiving said plurality of individual materials, said receiving means including a plurality of individual receiving locations in an array, each receiving location for receiving an individual material; location-identification means for identifying the unique location of each of said receiving locations within said array;   insertion means for inserting an individual material from said plurality of individual materials into one of said individual receiving locations, said insertion means including a means for depositing said individual material into said individual receiving locations;   insertion-detection means for detecting when insertion is occurring in an individual receiving location as identified by said location-identification means; and   recording means for recording deposition of said individual material by said insertion means into said individual receiving locations, said recording means recording the identification of said unique location in which said individual material has been deposited as determined by said location identification means and for recording the individual identity of said material as determined by said material identification means.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 1, further comprising: error detection means for detecting any occurrence of an insertion of said insertion means in an individual receiving location in which said recording means has previously recorded the deposition of a material.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 2, wherein: said error detection means further includes warning means for generating an alarm signal when said insertion means is inserted into an individual receiving location in which said recording means has previously recorded the deposition of a material.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 2, wherein: said error-detection means further includes invalidating means for generating a first error signal when two individual materials have been deposited in a single individual receiving location, said invalidating means further including means for causing said recording means to record said first error signal designating that said individual receiving location in which two individual materials have been deposited contains invalid material.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 3, wherein: said error-detection means further includes invalidating means for generating a first error signal when two individual materials have been deposited in a single individual receiving location, said invalidating means further including means for causing said recording means to record said first error signal designating that said individual receiving location in which two individual materials have been deposited contains invalid material.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 2, wherein: said error-detection means further includes a detection-of-duplicate-material means for generating a second error signal when the same individual material as identified by said material-identification means is attempted to be deposited in more than one receiving location.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 6, further comprising: override means for cancelling said second error signal to allow an individual material to be deposited in more than one receiving location.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 3, wherein: said error-detection means further includes a detection-of-duplicate-material means for generating a second error signal when the same individual material as identified by said material-identification means is attempted to be deposited in more than one receiving location.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 8, further comprising: override means for cancelling said second error signal to allow an individual material to be deposited in more than one receiving location.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 1, further comprising: void-signal means for creating a signal for recordation by said recording means for identifying an individual identification from said material-identification means to trace an individual material that is not deposited in a receiving location.   
     
     
       11. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 1, wherein: said material-identification means includes an optoelectrical device for sensing a pattern uniquely associated with each of said individual materials.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 11, wherein: said optoelectrical device is a bar-code reader.   
     
     
       13. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 1, wherein: said material-identification means includes a keyboard for digitally entering a unique identification number associated with each of said individual materials.   
     
     
       14. Apparatus for use with a plurality of materials as recited in claim 1, further comprising: second invalidating means for generating a second error signal for causing said recording means to record that a particular receiving location contains invalid material.   
     
     
       15. A system for identifying a plurality of individual medical samples, each sample having a unique sample identification associated therewith, said plurality of samples being contained in a plurality of holders, each holder having a unique holder identification associated therewith, each holder having a plurality of individual receiving locations, each receiving location having a unique location identification associated therewith, each receiving location for receiving a single individual sample from an insertion device, the system comprising: recording means for displaying said storing signals;   first reader means for reading said unique holder identification associated with said holder and generating a holder signal to be sent to said recording means for storage;   second reader means for reading said unique sample identification associated with said medical samples and generating a sample signal to be sent to said recording means for storage; third reader means for reading said unique location identification associated with each individual receiving location when said insertion device is introduced into said receiving location and generating a first location signal to be sent to said recording means for display; and   fourth reader means for reading said unique location identification associated with each individual receiving location when a sample is deposited into said receiving location and generating a second location signal to be sent to said recording means, said location signal being associated with said sample signal generated by said second reader means.   
     
     
       16. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising: manual entry means for manually entering one of a holder identification, a sample identification, and a identification of a test to be performed as desired by an operator.   
     
     
       17. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising: display means for displaying to an operator a series of prompt messages to inform the operator to perform actions required to cause said first reader means to read said holder identification.   
     
     
       18. A system as recited in claim 17, further comprising: first check means for determining if said holder identification read by said first reader means has been previously stored in said recording means, said check means including warning means for generating a first warning signal for the operator when said check means determines that said first reader means has read a holder identification that has been previously stored in said recording means.   
     
     
       19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein said warning means further includes: audio-means for generating an audio-detectable signal as said first warning signal, said display means also providing a visually detectable display as said first warning signal.   
     
     
       20. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein: said display means includes a prompt to inform the operator when it is appropriate to load a sample into said insertion device.   
     
     
       21. A system as recited in claim 17, further comprising: second check means for determining if a particular receiving location has previously had a sample deposited therein when said insertion means is inserted in said particular receiving location, said second check means including means for generating a second warning signal when said insertion means has been inserted in a receiving location that has had a sample previously stored therein.   
     
     
       22. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising: invalidation means for generating an invalidation signal associated with a particular receiving location for storage by said recording means when more than one sample has been deposited in said particular receiving location.   
     
     
       23. A system as recited in claim 15, further comprising: flag means for flagging a sample identification signal for a particular sample to designate that said particular sample is one of a positive, negative, and void samples.